Lorex Technology is one of the early innovators in the baby monitoring space, having spiffed up that little gadget to be the optimal baby-watching machine. With competition from other technology companies entering the baby monitoring space -- such as Withings with its upcoming Smart Baby Monitor -- Lorex is leading the way in technological advancements in baby monitoring.
We spoke with Gilad Epstein, Lorex Technology's vice president of product management and marketing, to learn about Lorex's mission, innovations and insights on the future of baby monitoring technologies.
Taking DIY Video Surveillance to the Crib
Lorex Technology pioneered the do-it-yourself video surveillance market 15 years ago, alleviating the problem of having to hire contractors to install at-home security systems.
While video surveillance has been Lorex's bread and butter since then, the company has picked up on a trend of increasing at-home surveillance needs within the past few years. Consumers aren't looking for high-tech security systems, though -- they're looking for simplified plug-and-play products that help them monitor children, pets and elders in their homes.
Based on that growing need, the company launched its Lorex Live product line, which focuses on simple, plug-and-play wireless products, says Epstein. One of the most innovative products in this line is the Lorex Live Connect, a wireless monitor that enables its users to access video remotely via Skype, among other features. This product breaks the mold in the DIY surveillance space, and we'll use it as an example to highlight just how creative Lorex is getting with baby monitoring.
Tricking Out Baby Monitors
With its roots in security surveillance, Lorex has embedded some of its core technologies into its baby monitoring products. Epstein explains a number of innovations the company has packed into the Lorex Live Connect monitor, as well as in its other products. Here's a master list:
Digital Wireless Transmission: Gone are the days when the only options were analog audio or video. Lorex's productions transmit signals digitally, so you won't pick up your neighbor's audio on your monitor, and the screen doesn't get fuzzy when you turn on your microwave. Going digital enhances security and eliminates interference.
Two-Way Audio: Most baby monitors only feature one-way audio, so that you can hear your baby, but your baby can't hear you. Lorex enables parents to soothe their crying offspring when they're not in the room.
Automatic Night Vision: It's unrealistic to leave the light on in your baby's room at all hours of the night, so Lorex incorporated automatic night vision into all of its baby monitors.
Video Recording: Lorex's baby monitors feature one-touch video recording onto an SD card. Furthermore, although not marketed as a baby monitor, one of Lorex's wireless monitors features motion-activated recording, a standard in the surveillance market, but quite rare in the wireless baby monitoring space.
Photo Snapping: A lot of cute moments happen when you're not in the room with your child. Lorex's baby monitors feature photo-snapping abilities, so that you can catch those cute moments remotely.
Audio-Triggered Video Recording: The Lorex Live Sense features audio-triggered video recording. So, if your baby starts crying, the video recorder starts recording, so that you can play back to see what caused the baby to cry.
Multi-Camera Monitoring: While each baby monitor comes with one camera, each monitor can support up to four cameras, allowing for a multi-camera experience. In this case, you can actually use the system to monitor more than just your baby -- other popular camera placements include the front door, a toddler's room and the den, says Epstein.
Remote Monitoring with Skype: Lorex's integration with Skype enables parents and care-givers to connect to their monitoring systems while they're away.
Lorex is also pushing the envelope in the design department, continuing to enhance the look and usability of its baby monitoring products, based closely on the iPhone's sleek user experience, says Epstein.
Addressing Market Challenges
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